What it takes to become a professional football player.

How to become a professional footballer There is a lot of luck involved in becoming a professional footballer, but you can give yourself a better chance by following certain principles Being a professional footballer is the dream job for many and it's easy to see why. After all, it offers one the chance to become a millionaire by playing a game they love. Not only that, but those who excel in the sport are, more often than not, revered and their legacies resonate for years, decades even. However, it is an incredibly competitive industry, which demands dedication, consistency and sacrifice Out of all the boys who enter an academy at the age of nine, less than half of one per cent make it. Or a make a living from the game either So how exactly do you become a professional footballer? Panther talangfabriken brings you some tips that may help on your path to becoming a pro. Should I start football young? While it is not absolutely necessary to start playing football at a young age in order to make it as a professional, it definitely helps. around the idea of 'the 10,000-Hour Rule' - that is, the period of practice needed in order to master skills - and it is true that developing world-class ability takes time. If you have had 10 years of deliberate practice or coaching from the age of seven or eight, the chances are you will be well equipped with the skills and knowledge base required to succeed in football. There is a reason why youth academies exist they attempt to facilitate meaningful development of young players in order to help them reach an elite level of performance by the time they are adults. Of course, there are a number of examples of footballers who matured at a different stage in life or took a circuitous route to the top - so don't worry if you're a bit late to the game.